512 Breedinr/ and Management of Horses on a Farm. 
the careful breeder ; but should a mare throw curbs from any 
sudden and violent exertion of the hind legs, as in taking some 
extraordinary leap, or in struggling through very deep ground 
Avith a heavy weight on her back, it is questionable whether her 
progeny will inherit a defect thus produced by accident : as in 
like manner a racer, that has broken down from great exertions 
on the turf, does not procreate offspring similarly diseased. Still, 
after some lapse of time, it is not impossible, nor indeed impro- 
bable, that the progeny of such a horse may be foaled with a 
congenital weakness of the back sinews, which may terminate in 
a rupture similar to that of the sire. It is consequently better, if 
possible, to breed from animals that are in every respect sound ; 
and if one of the parents have any peculiar defect — as, for ex- 
ample, a very large head, or somewhat straight shoulders — it 
should be corrected, as far as may be, by a corresponding point 
of superior excellence in the other. 
With this proviso, I shall proceed to enter upon the considera- 
tion of the principal points to be sought after in both sire and 
dam by the breeder of first-rate hunters. 
To begin with the dam. Having ascertained, as far as possi- 
ble, what may be her pedigree, and whether she came of a stock 
free from disease of any_ kind, and if not famed for speed and 
endurance, at all events not noted for a deficiency of these very 
necessary qualifications, let her frame embrace most, if not all, of 
the following requisites for producing a healthy, vigorous, and 
valuable offspring. Let her forehead and space between the ears 
be broad — for in proportion to the width of the upper part of the 
head shall be the mass of cerebral matter which shall impart 
energy, spirit, and courage to her progeny, and endow them with 
determination to struggle through difficulties, and resolution to 
dare the greatest obstacles. A want of this point may be the 
means of producing a timid, nervous animal, that will baulk his 
fences, and start at the most trifling noise or unusual object. 
Below the eyes the nose should taper gradually towards the nos- 
trils, which should spread slightly outwards, giving free ingress 
and egress to the air, and be capable of expanding considerably 
during exertion of the body. A bright red and vascular appearance 
of the lining memlirane of the nostril is very generally a token of 
good blood and plenty of s])irit. If the mouth be deep so much 
the better, for a shallow-mouthed horse carries a bit badly ; this, 
however, is not a point of any great importance. 
The ears should be long, thin, pointed forwards, and composed 
entirely of cartilage covered by a fine skin ; if fleshy, or hanging 
laterally, they are symptoms of dulness and want of fire. A 
short ear is by many people considered a beauty ; but the long 
and finely-pointed ear is frequently a proof of good breeding, aixd, 
